Storms
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Windsock

Cyclone Ian brings widespread destruction to Tonga's central and northern islands

Dominique Schwartz
Australia Network News
Sun, 12 Jan 2014 17:08 UTC
cyclone Ian tonga
© Twitter: @ProudTongansPower lines down on Hala Holopeka, one of the main roads on the eastern side of Ha'apai.
Officials in Tonga have confirmed the first death from Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian as reports come in of widespread destruction on islands in the country's centre and north.

The full extent of damage is still unclear as the storm, now downgraded to category three, moves away from Tonga and out into the open ocean.

The huge storm, described as the worst to hit Tonga in decades, slammed into the northern islands on Saturday before moving on to the main island overnight.

Houses have been flattened, roofs blown away and trees and power lines brought down.
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Snowflake Cold

Heavy snowfall cripples life in hills in Nepal


myrepublica.com
Sun, 12 Jan 2014 11:11 UTC
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Heavy snowfall has crippled normal life across the hills of the far-western and mid-western regions. Bhim Dutta Highway, the only motorway to reach the hills of the far-western region, has been blocked by snowfall since Friday night. Hundreds of buses, trucks and other vehicles are now stranded on the highway. As snowfall continues, the highway is unlikely to be cleared any time soon.

"We are unable to clear the highway as it is still snowing," said Keshav Bohara, inspector at the District Police Office (DPO) of Dadeldhura. "We will start clearing the highway only when it stops snowing." Heaps of snow can be seen in Saukharka and Hugulte areas of the highway; and vehicles are now trapped between these two places. There is no way out for them as long as it keeps snowing in the hilly region.
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Cloud Precipitation

Nearly 2 feet of rain in 24 hours hits Florida's Palm Beach County

Daniel Arkin
NBC News
Fri, 10 Jan 2014 18:15 UTC
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© J Pat Carter / APAndre Francois wades through knee deep flood water in Boynton Beach, Fla., on Friday to get back to his house.
A torrential downpour lashed Florida's Palm Beach County before dawn Friday, shuttering schools, flooding an interstate and causing at least two deaths.

More than 22 inches of rain fell on Boynton Beach over a 24-hour period, according to the National Weather Service. The Sun Sentinel newspaper said the most rain was around Interstate 95 and Gateway Boulevard, while between 12 and 18 inches fell over just a few hours in Lantana and Delray Beach.

"An incredible rainfall rate," said Robert Molleda, a meteorologist with the NWS. "There is no way we could forecast that much rain in that short a time."

The first of the two deaths occurred just after 7 a.m. Friday in West Delray: Elsa Marquez, 56, steered her Toyota Rav 4 through a flooded intersection at Heritage Park and Via Flora into a lake, and her vehicle quickly sank.

Elsewhere in Delray Beach, a man died after drowning in a flooded ditch, according to NBC affiliate WPTV in West Palm Beach.

Several roads were closed and water gushed into homes and businesses, according to the National Weather Service in Miami. The rushing floodwater also forced the closure of Palm Beach County schools Friday, the Weather Channel reported.
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Camcorder

Earth changes in Philippines: Waterspout, 7.1 magnitude earthquake, 100 sinkholes all struck within a day


YouTube
Tue, 15 Oct 2013 05:32 UTC
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Video taken October 14, 2013 at 10am, BArangay San Isidiro (Poblacion), Philippines.


Comment: Oct. 15, 2013: Philippines earthquake kills 32, injures 100s

100 sinkholes found in Philippines Bohol province after quake

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Ice Cube

Polar vortex puts millions across the U.S. at risk from brutally cold weather - Includes Global Warming dunnit nonsense

Ed Pilkington
The Guardian
Mon, 06 Jan 2014 00:00 UTC
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© John Dixon/APA wrecked semi truck sits in a ditch in Illinois as sub-zero temperatures hit driving conditions.
- Twenty six states under federal warnings for severe wind chills

- Montana recording a record-making wind chill of -52C (-61F)

- Live blog: life-threatening cold hits North America

Millions of Americans from Montana down to as far south as Alabama are being warned that their lives are at risk if they venture out for any length of time into brutally cold conditions that are driving temperatures to their lowest in 20 years.

Severe weather warnings from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for Minnesota and Wisconsin said that wind chills caused by gusts of up to 30 mph were causing temperatures to plummet to between -37C (-35F) and -46C (-50F). "Exposed flesh will freeze and cause frost bite in only five minutes," the warning observed, adding that such dangerous conditions were likely to last until at least Tuesday afternoon.

Twenty six states continue to be under federal warnings for severe wind chills as bitterly cold air is swept down from the Arctic, with Montana recording a wind chill of -52C (-61F). The severe weather has already caused havoc in the Northern Plains and is expected to reach the north-east on Tuesday, extending disruption to airports and travellers. More than 3,000 flights were cancelled on Monday and Chicago's O'Hare International airport has been particularly badly affected.
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Snowflake Cold

Has the Ice Age arrived? Temperatures drop below freezing in all 50 U.S. states

Joanna Walters
The Guardian
Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:01 UTC
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How Chicago currently looks from the air. Is the 'Day After Tomorrow' ... today?
Temperatures in all 50 US states dipped below freezing on Tuesday in a rare nationwide chill that will keep a grip on much of the country for at least another day, with cutting winds and blizzards posing the most danger.

Florida, a state that normally basks in its reputation as a warm winter escape, experienced unusually low temperatures. In the midwest, northeast and eastern Canada, it was dangerous to venture outside. At some point on Tuesday, at least one location in each of the 50 US states recorded temperatures below freezing, with the highest point on Hawaii, Mauna Kea, recording a temperature of 21F (-6C).

The so-called polar vortex that funnelled an Arctic low pressure system into the upper US this week swung south and east on Tuesday. Polar conditions settled over two-thirds of the US.

It was colder in the southern state of Georgia than Alaska as Atlanta plunged to 6F (-14C) - the lowest temperature since 1966 - while Anchorage, Alaska, recorded 27F (-3C) . Wind chills were recorded around -60F in parts of Michigan, Minnesota, Montana and New Hampshire.
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Bulb

Protecting your home from extreme cold


CBS News - New York
Mon, 06 Jan 2014 11:02 UTC
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© CBS 2Experts say you should keep a trickle of water running in extreme cold to keep pipes from freezing.
Temperatures in the single digits were set to arrive early Tuesday, and they can really do a number on your home.

CBS 2's Dave Carlin went in search of some tips on how to protect your house for the bitter blast.

Phyllis Dalton of Levittown was standing right under the spot Monday where several years ago, a water pipe snapped during a cold snap.

She promised herself it would never happen again, and started winterizing.

"You pay attention and you do those little things," Levittown said.

Levittown learned just like people need layers of clothing in the extreme cold, houses also need layers of protection. The advice is particularly important in preventing freezing pipes.

"(There is) a valve - a shut off valve," said Brian Bruce, who operates New York American Water.
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Life Preserver

NYC area airports packed with what amounts to Climate Change Refugees - Expect more such scenarios


CBS News
Mon, 06 Jan 2014 20:49 UTC
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© Reuters/Carlo AllegriA woman sit on the floor while her flight is delayed at La Guardia airport in New York, January 6, 2014.
Hours before a deep freeze moved in, flights in and out of the New York City area had already been disrupted.

JetBlue halted operations at all three major New York-area airports and in Boston in an effort to catch up with dozens of weather-related delays and cancellations.

The airline announced Monday that operations stopped entirely at Newark, John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports and at Boston's Logan International Airport at 5 p.m.

The plan allows 17 hours for the company to rest crew and time to service aircraft.

As CBS 2′s Tracee Carrasco reported, stranded travelers had nowhere to go and nothing to do Monday but wait and sleep in airport terminals.

JetBlue customer Julia Moron has been desperately trying to get home to Houston for days.

"I've been stuck here between JFK and now LaGuardia since Thursday," she said.
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Bizarro Earth

At least four injured as freak wave hits Portugal coast


The Telegraph, UK
Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:41 UTC
Dramatic amateur video captures the moment an enormous wave engulfs onlookers, injuring at least four, as it crashes onto shore in Portugal.


At least four people were injured and cars were swept away by an enormous wave that crashed onto the coast of Porto in Portugal. Spectators were caught off guard as they filmed dramatic waves crashing against a lighthouse at the mouth of the Douro river in Porto.

As a huge wave unexpectedly came crashing over the seafront wall, bystanders and their cars were suddenly engulfed in the swell.The amateur footage shows panicked onlookers running from the sea, shouting "keep running!", as water continues to flood in over the street.Cars were dragged and damaged and according to local media four people suffered abrasions as a result of the wave.
Freak wave
© YouTube/Telegraph, UKSnapshot from video above.
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Red Flag

UK weather: Environment Agency issues flood warnings for whole of England and Wales

Adam Withnall
The Independent, UK
Tue, 07 Jan 2014 10:14 UTC
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Met Office says more heavy rain expected today and tomorrow
With the UK suffering the worst band of winter storms in more than 20 years, the Environment Agency has been forced to issue flood warnings in every single region across England and Wales.

The agency currently has around 350 alerts in place across the country as a whole, including three severe warnings which indicate there is a "danger to life".

Last night a flood siren warning of extreme danger to people and property was sounded in Dorset, as gales and tidal surges battered the coast.

The Environment Agency raised the alarm after its sea defences were breached at Chiswell Beach in Portland last night, following on from a severe flood warning in the area.
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